Transfer cart

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a wheeled cart of the collapsible type which is intended for use in handling large food containers, such as milk containers. The cart is specifically characterized by inclined shelves which slope downwardly from the front of the cart toward the rear portion which is provided with a slidably mounted ladder or gate. The forward edge of each shelf includes a lip or partition which prevents the milk products from being pushed off the shelf. Horizontal bars or rungs of the gate are spaced such that, with the gate fully retracted, the rungs prevent the withdrawal of milk products from the rear of the cart, whereas when the gate is extended vertically upwardly, the rungs do not interfere with the enlarged openings needed for loading the milk products onto the shelves from the rear of the cart.

Unite States Paent Swiclt, Jr. et a1.

[ TRANSFER CART [75] Inventors: George E. Swick, Jr., Edina;

Ellsworth H. Danielson; Theodore W. Taylor, both of St. Paul, all ofMinn.

[73] Assignee: The Cornelius Company,

Minneapolis, Minn.

[22] Filed: June 14, 1972 [21] App]. N0.: 262,914

[451 Mar. 19, 1974 2.637.445 5/1953 Patterson 280/793 PrimaryE.taminerRobert R. Song [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to awheeled cart of the collapsible type which is intended for use inhandling large food containers, such as milk containers. The cart isspecifically characterized by inclined shelves which slope downwardlyfrom the front of the cart toward the rear portion which is providedwith a slidably mounted ladderor gate. The forward edge of each shelfincludes a lip or partition which prevents the milk products from beingpushed off the shelf. Horizontal bars or rungs of the gate are spacedsuch that, with the gate fully retracted, the rungs prevent thewithdrawal of milk products from the rear of the cart, whereas when thegate is extended vertically upwardly, the rungs do not interfere withthe enlarged openings needed for loading the milk products onto theshelves from the rear of the cart.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNAR I 9 mm 37971842 sum 2 or 2 H6. 2Fl. 3

. TRANSFER CART The present invention provides a lightweight, sturdycart which is adapted to be collapsed to occupy a minimum amount ofspace, and when in the open position, includes a plurality of inclinedshelves, and a moveable back portion which will enable the ready loadingof food products onto the inclined shelves. In addition, the backportion may be moved to a retracted position wherein it functions toprevent the food products from falling off the cart.

In order to expedite the handling of various food products from theplant to the retail outlet, the trend has been to provide carts ontowhich the food products are directly loaded, after which the carts arewheeled onto a vehicle for transportation to the retail outlet. At theretail outlet, the wheeled cart is moved into place in an aisle of thestore, and the consumer removes the food products from the cart. Whenthe food products have been completely removed from the cart, the cartis collapsed for minimum storage space and returned to the plant.Accordingly, a minimum amount of handling of the food products isrequired, thereby decreasing the cost of providing the foodstuffs to theconsumer.

One of the primary industries which has resorted to the use ofcollapsible carts is the milk industry, and developments are presentlyunder way for designing various types of automatic loading machines foruse in the milk plants to load the collapsible carts. The concept ofemploying collapsible carts is particularly suitable for use in thehandling of milk containers which are extremely heavy and bulky, and yetrelatively fragile. l-leretofore, the type of collapsible carts thathave been used for the transporting of milk have been of the type whichincludes several horizontal shelves, each of which has a lip at both thefront and the rear portion thereof. The provision of a lip at the rearportion greatly complicates the loading of the milk containers in thatthe milk products must be loaded over the lip and then onto the shelf.As a result, present systems use a shovel device that is loaded withseveral containers of milk. The shovel reaches into the cart over thelip, after which a bar holds the milk and the shovel is withdrawn, atwhich time the milk drops into place onto the shelf. Because of the factthat the milk is heavy, only one half of the depth of the shelf isloaded in each loading operation. Thus, the cart must be turned around,and loaded from the front, again using the shovel and bar concept.Furthermore, presently available carts include a divider located halfway between the front and rear lips of each shelf. Although this divideris helpful during the loading operation, it creates a problem at theretail outlet. More particularly, consumers are readily able to removethe milk containers from the cart along the front half of each shelf bymerely lifting the milk product over the front lip. However, as milk isremoved, it is difficult to remove the milk containers from the back ofthe cart over the center divider, whereby the practice has been for theretail outlet to have to remove the cart from its position in therefrigerator, and turn it around to make the back half of the cartreadily available to the consumer.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theshortcomings of known collapsible carts used for the handling andtransporting of food products such as milk. It is another object of thisinvention to provide a transfer cart which may be loaded from one end,and which includes inclined shelves to aid in the loading of thefoodstuffs on the cart.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a transfercart including a moveable back portion which facilitates loading, andwhich functions to prevent the inadvertent toppling of foodstuffs fromthe cart when in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a transfer cart whichminimizes the amount of handling of foodstuffs, and manipulation of thecart in transporting the foodstuffs from the plant to a consumer.

The transfer cart of the subject invention generally comprises acollapsible cart having a plurality of inclined shelves, inclined fromthe front of the cart toward the rear, with a ladder or gate slidablymounted along the rear portion of the cart, and with the verticalspacing between the horizontal rungs of the gate corresponding to thevertical spacing between the shelves. When the gate is fully retracted,the rungs are disposed between shelves thereby preventing the removal offoodstuffs loaded on the shelves, however during a loading operation,the gate is slid vertically upwardly, whereby the rungs are aligned withthe shelves to enable the loading machine to align its loading platformwith the shelf, and the milk or foodstuffs is pushed into the cart,-thuscompleting the loading of a complete shelf in one operation. There is norear or center lip or partition to work around, and after the cart isfully loaded, the gate is lowered and the milk is restrained from beingremoved from the rear of the cart. The rearwardly sloping shelves aid inkeeping the milk or foodstuffs in place during handling of the cart, asit is loaded onto a truck and subsequently loaded into a refrigerator ina retail outlet. A lip extends along the forward edge of each shelf toprevent milk from toppling. Of course, the sloping shelf also aids inpreventing milk from toppling out through the front portion of the cart.

At the retail outlet, at customer merely reaches into the cart to removethe milk, and if desired, instead of having to turn the entire cart astock boy can aid tigconsumer in removing the milk by nfeFeTtEshing themilk forward toward the forward lip' as the milk products are removed. l

The invention includes the various novel features of construction andarrangement hereinafter disclosed with reference to the accompanyingdrawings'in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the transfer cart of the subjectinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the transfer cart of the subject invention,with the gate being moved to its vertical loading position, and with twoof the shelves being shown'in dotted lines in their collapsed positions;and

FIG. 3 is a back view of the transfer cart of the subject invention withthe gate moved to its fully retracted position for transporting of thefoodstuffs from the plant to the retail outlet, and during the time whenthe foodstuffs are being removed from the shelves by the consumer.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the transfer'cart basically comprises avertically extending main frame 10 defined by a back portion includingtwo vertical structures 12,12 interconnected by horizontal bars 13, twovertical side frame structures 20,22, a plurality of product supportshelves 14 extending between said side frame structures, and a gatenumber 16. Each vertical side frame structure 20,22 is pivotallyconnected to the associated vertical structure 12 by upper hinge 24 andlower hinge 26. The product support shelves 14 extend transverselybetween the side structures of the main frame and are supported thereby.More particularly, along the back portion of the main frame each shelf14 is pivotally connected to the side structures 12,12 at pivot points28,28, whereas along the front protion of the main frame 10, the productsupport shelves are engaged with the side frame structures 20,22 bylatching means 30. The latter comprises L-shaped clip members 32 securedto the underside of each product support shelf at the opposite sidesthereof, and cooperating U- shaped clips 34 secured to the vertical sideframe structures 20,22.

The arrangement of the pivotally mounted shelves, and the pivotallymounted side frame members 20,22 enables the transfer cart to becollapsed when not in use. At such time, the product support shelves 14are rotated upwardly to'the storage position as shown in dotted lines inFIG. 2, and are held in this position by a conventional spring latchassembly (secured to the lower surface of each shelf) which bearsagainst a structural member of the main frame. After the shelves aremoved to the collapsed position, side frame members 20,22 are rotatedinwardly about pivots 24,26 to positions against the inclined collapsedshelves.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it is noted that each of the product supportshelves 14 is generally inclined downwardly from the front portion ofthe vertically extending main frame 10 to the back portion thereof.Furthermore, the vertical spacing between the product support shelves isgenerally designated by the letter S, and the spacing is equal betweenthe several product support shelves. Furthermore, as illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, secured to the forward edge of each product support shelf isan elongated lip 50 that is provided for preventing inadvertent topplingof foodstuffs, such as milk containers 52 from the product supportshelves. The planar surface of each product support shelf is generallycorrugated, asshown by the raised portions 56 on each shelf tofacilitate cleaning any liquids which may spill on the shelves. Sincethe shelves are inclined rearwardly, any fluid which is inadvertentlyspilled on the shelves flows to the rear portion of the transfer cart,away from the front lip which would be exposed to the consumer. v

The gate 16 of the transfer cart generally comprises a ladder-likeconstruction of unitary tubing, preferably of rectangular cross-section,as are the remaining portions of the frame structures of the transfercart. The gate comprises vertically extending side members 60 and 62,which are interconnected by a plurality of generally horizontal tubularmembers 64. The vertical spacing between the horizontal tube member 64corresponds to the vertical spacing S between the product supportshelves. The gate is supported on the transfer cart by means of upperand lower U-shaped clip portions 70 secured to the rear vertical membersof the frame structures 12,12. The arrangement of the U- shaped clips 70and the gate16 is such as to allow the gate 16 to be verticallyslidable.

As illustrated in HQ 3, when the gate is retracted to its fully downposition, the horizontal tubular members 64 are positioned intermediatethe vertical spacing between the product support shelves, whereby thetubular members 64 define a rear barrier for preventing the foodstuffs,such as milk containers 52, from toppling from the-product supportshelves. On the other hand,

as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the gate 16 is vertically raised, thetubular member 64 may be aligned with the product support shelves,whereby the rearward opening to the transfer cart is unobstructed,thereby facilitating the loading of milk containers 52 onto the productsupport shelves.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the loading sequence, in which thetransfer cart is moved to a position adjacent a loading platform 80,after which the milk containers are moved to the right, as designated.by the arrows, for sliding onto the product support shelves.

When a support shelf has been completely loaded, the

loading platform would be lowered or raised, as the case may be, forloading of the next product support shelf.

When the transfer cart has been fully loaded with milk containers 52,the gate 16 is lowered to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 and theentire transfer cart rolled, by means of wheels provided at the base ofthe cart onto a truck for transporting to a retail outlet.

After all of the milk products have been removed from the transfer cart,the product support shelves are disengaged from the latching means 30and pivoted generally downwardly to a vertical position, after which theside frame structures are collapsed by folding of the forward portionsgenerally inward, and the collapsed transfer cart is returned to theplant for reloading.

It is not desired to limit the present invention to the precise detailsof construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious thatvarious modifications may be made in the invention without departingfrom the essential features of the invention, as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A transfer cart for use in transporting and displaying products suchas food containers comprising:

a vertically extending main frame having a front portion, a rear portionand including two side frame structures;

a plurality of vertically spaced, product support shelves extendingbetween and connected to said side frame structures, each shelfincluding a lip extending along the front portion of the cart; and gateincluding a plurality of generally horizontal bars disposed along theback portion of the cart; means for slidably mounting said gate to saidside frame structures for positioning between an extended and aretracted position of said gate, with the vertical spacing between saidhorizontal bars substantially corresponding to the vertical spacingbetween said shelves whereby in the retracted position of the gate, thehorizontal bars thereof are disposed between said spaced product supportshelves to prevent food containers from inadvertantly falling from saidshelves whereas when the gate is disposed in its extended position, thehorizontal bars thereof are substantially aligned with the productshelves to enable unrestricted access thereto.

2. A transfer cart as in claim 1, wherein each of said product supportshelves is inclined downwardly extending from the front portion to therear portion of said main frame.

3. A transfer cart as in claim 1 further including roller means disposedalong the lower edge thereof.

4. A transfer cart as in claim 1 wherein each product support shelf iscorrugated.

5. A transfer cart as in claim 1 wherein each of said product supportshelves is pivotally connected to the side frames adjacent the rearportion of the main frame, and wherein each side frame structurecomprises two parts pivotally interconnected, whereby the transfer cartmay be collapsed when not supporting products.

6. A transfer cart for use in transporting and displaying products suchas food containers comprising:

a vertically extending main frame having a front portion, a rear portionand including two side frame structures;

a plurality of product support shelves extending between and supportedby said side structures, each shelf including a lip extending along thefront portion of the cart, each shelf further being inclined relative tothe horizontal from the front portion to the rear portion of saidvertically extending main frame; and

a gate including a plurality of generally horizontal bars correspondingin number to the number of product support shelves, means for slidablymounting said gate along the back portion of the cart to said sidestructures, with the vertical spacing between said horizontal barscorresponding to the vertical spacing between said shelves, the bars ofsaid gate being disposed intermediate the vertical spacing between theshelves when the gate is fully retracted, whereas when the gate isextended upwardly, the bars are aligned with the shelves to enableaccess to the shelves from the rear portion of said vertically extendingmain frame.

7. A transfer cart as in claim 6 wherein each product support shelf iscorrugated.

8. A transfer cart as in claim 6 wherein each side structure includestwo pivotally connected sections, and wherein each product support shelfis pivotally mounted to said side frames at the rear portion of thevertically extending main frame, whereby said transfer cart may becollapsed to facilitate transporting when not supporting products.

9. A transfer cart as in claim 7 further including wheel means disposedalong the bottom portion of the vertically extending main frame.

1. A transfer cart for use in transporting and displaying products suchas food containers comprising: a vertically extending main frame havinga front portion, a rear portion and including two side frame structures;a plurality of vertically spaced, product support shelves extendingbetween and connected to said side frame structures, each shelfincluding a lip extending along the front portion of the cart; and agate including a plurality of generally horizontal bars disposed alongthe back portion of the cart; means for slidably mounting said gate tosaid side frame structures for positioning between an extended and aretracted position of said gate, with the vertical spacing between saidhorizontal bars substantially corresponding to the vertical spacingbetween said shelves whereby in the retracted position of the gate, thehorizontal bars thereof are disposed between said spaced product supportshelves to prevent food containers from inadvertantly falling from saidshelves whereas when the gate is disposed in its extended position, thehorizontal bars thereof are substantially aligned with the productshelves to enable unrestricted access thereto.
 2. A transfer cart as inclaim 1, wherein each of said product support shelves is inclineddownwardly extending from the front portion to the rear portion of saidmain frame.
 3. A transfer cart as in claim 1 further including rollermeans disposed along the lower edge thereof.
 4. A transfer cart as inclaim 1 wherein each product support shelf is corrugated.
 5. A transfercart as in claim 1 wherein each of said product support shelves ispivotally connected to the side frames adjacent the rear portion of themain frame, and wherein each side frame structure comprises two partspivotally interconnected, whereby the transfer cart may be collapsedwhen not supporting products.
 6. A transfer cart for use in transportingand displaying products such as food containers comprising: a verticallyextending main frame having a front portion, a rear portion andincluding two side frame structures; a plurality of product supportshelves extending between and supported by said side structures, eachshelf including a lip extending along the front portion of the cart,each shelf further being iNclined relative to the horizontal from thefront portion to the rear portion of said vertically extending mainframe; and a gate including a plurality of generally horizontal barscorresponding in number to the number of product support shelves, meansfor slidably mounting said gate along the back portion of the cart tosaid side structures, with the vertical spacing between said horizontalbars corresponding to the vertical spacing between said shelves, thebars of said gate being disposed intermediate the vertical spacingbetween the shelves when the gate is fully retracted, whereas when thegate is extended upwardly, the bars are aligned with the shelves toenable access to the shelves from the rear portion of said verticallyextending main frame.
 7. A transfer cart as in claim 6 wherein eachproduct support shelf is corrugated.
 8. A transfer cart as in claim 6wherein each side structure includes two pivotally connected sections,and wherein each product support shelf is pivotally mounted to said sideframes at the rear portion of the vertically extending main frame,whereby said transfer cart may be collapsed to facilitate transportingwhen not supporting products.
 9. A transfer cart as in claim 7 furtherincluding wheel means disposed along the bottom portion of thevertically extending main frame.